Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding.

I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... It was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.

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I offer a wide range of guided walks around the city and university. These can be a general introduction to the history and architecture or looking at specific themes and subjects.

About Me

I am a Catholic and a historian based in Oxford, where I am a member of Oriel College. My research, for a long delayed D.Phil., is a study of Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln in the second decade of the fifteenth century. I also work as a freelance tutor in History and as an independent tour guide.
I was received into the Church in 2005 and am a Brother of the External Oratory of St Philip Neri at the Oxford Oratory.

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Friday, 11 November 2011

King Pedro V, the Beloved

Today is 150th anniversary of the death of King Pedro V of Portugal in 1861. He died of cholera at the age of only 24, and his death was to be within days or weeks of those of two of his younger brothers. The son of Queen Maria II and her King-consort husband Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg he was thus related to the Coburg network of the royal families of Europe. He succeeded his mother as King in 1853, aged 16, and until his majority his father acted as regent until 1855.

The future King Pedro V as Prince Royal and Duke of Braganza

Image:royalcollection.org.uk

There is a biography of the King here , and an excellent, much more detailed one with a fine selection of illustrations here.

State portrait of King Pedro V

Image: findagrave.com

A description of the King's oath taking in 1855

Image:cgi.ebay.com

His marriage to his short-lived Queen Stephanie of Hohenzollern has produced no children before her premature death in 1859 and he was to be succeeded by his brother, King Luis I.

King Pedro V in his early years as monarch

Image: Wikipedia

King Pedro V in later years

Image:ookaboo.com

The death of King Pedro was not only a personal tragedy, but may have been one for the Portuguese monarchy. Just as his mother had been apopular ruler so King Pedro was both popular and dedicated to his people and improving the life of the nation - very much a Coburg trait. He became known as Pedro the Beloved. Had he lived longer and continued on the path that appears to have been in his mind there might have been an avoidance of the national decline that occurred under King Luis I and King Carlos I and enabled forces opposed to the monarchy and traditional life to blame the Crown and argue, disastrously, for change.